Holy Cow! Only In Boulder…
I’ve been staying with my good friends, Lars and Emily Finanger, since I landed in Boulder.
The fellas (Leon Griffin and Gavin Scott) had returned to Australia after their usual summer of training in Boulder, and living with Em and Lars, by the time I arrived. I was bummed not to have had the chance to see them and say goodbye before they went back home, but I know they were both anxious to get back to their homes, their girlfriends, their life in Australia….. They are both such good guys. One thing living in Boulder and being a triathlete does for you is give you such great opportunities to make friends from all over the world. Most everyone comes to Boulder to train at some point — so some great people to meet that you never otherwise would have.
With 3 guys in the house, poor Emily was enduring a high-octane testosterone fest. I was quick to point out to Lars “the shift” in energy: the hormonal change in the house to estrogen! 
Emily and I were laughing as I teased Lars that I was going to put fuzzy pink toilet covers on the toilets, and put boxes of jumbo-sized tampons all over the place. Lars was QUICK to defend, “If you guys start doing that, seriously, I am OUT OF HERE!” Funny….
It’s great living with Em and Lars as I look for my own place; they are both so easy going and welcoming, and could not do more to make me feel at home. Lars is building onto his great bike performance at IMCanada last month as he preps for IMAZ, and Emily is trying to ramp up again to potentially finish her season with the Soma 1/2. Last night we rode towards Jamestown when Em got done with work (I turned back early to make it to a dinner), and I continue to be reminded how AMAZING it is, and how lucky I am, to be in a place like Boulder, CO. Going on ALL rides from the front door (i.e., NO driving!) is something I don’t think I will ever lose gratitude for.
So… my pot of gold at the end of my rainbow continues to become more full here.
My longtime friend, TR Maloney, accepted a job and moved to Boulder last week. He and I have been friends for so long, we decided we would be great roommates, especially both being newcomers to Boulder. The house hunting begins… (Ugggg, this process everyone can relate to, and no one likes it!)
I have the first good story to tell:
This morning around 7:30a, TR and I went for a little run before he had to leave for work. We ran to some trails and then were headed down the main street of Broadway towards our homes when, as we approached Amantes coffee shop (where folks typically gather to start their rides), I noticed the man across the street on the sidewalk.
He yanked down his pants and, buck naked, strolled down the street, a completely casual stroll as if nothing was wrong. WTF! I pointed him out to TR and we both started cracking up. I kept saying, “I am so glad you’re with me to see this. No one will believe this!” This guy was really furry, too??? YUCK.
A bunch of roadies at Amantes were cheering, and people in their cars started doing double-takes, laughing, honking, etc. Crazy. As we ran by I yelled to the roadies, “I am not doing that!” and they laughed.
TR and I kept running, occasionally looking back to see naked man in the distance behind us, still walking.
Soon enough 3 cop cars went by us. The force was coming.
Only in Boulder…. (or NYC!)
Later I couldn’t stop thinking about the bizarre sight of naked man, so I sent TR an email. He wrote back, “Button on a fur coat. It was cold.”
*LOL*!!!! I about fell out of my chair laughing at that … and continue to giggle now as I repeat it in my head.
Good times.
Miss you Sharpie